Afghan commandos with the Afghan National Army’s 3rd Commando Kandak shield their faces from flying debris after loading a wounded commando on a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a village clearing operation in Zhari district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, July 6. The commandos, supported by service members with Special Operations Task Force – South, found and destroyed several caches consisting of homemade explosives and improvised explosive device-making materials, as well as a weapons cache.

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Russell, a platoon sergeant and member of Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul's security force, crosses the Tarnek River in Qalat City, Afghanistan, July 9. Team members work with Afghan officials to improve governance, stability and development throughout the province.

July 13, 2011 - Photo by Robert D. Ward

During a press conference following his induction into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, July 13, Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. 1st. Class Leroy Petry describes in detail the combat action of May 26, 2008, near Paktya, Afghanistan, during which he distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry in saving the lives of two fellow Rangers. Petry's right hand was traumatically amputated during the fight and he now uses a state-of-the-art prosthesis, which allows him amazing dexterity.

July 21, 2011 - Photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod

A team of combat engineers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team cuts through a wire obstacle during a training exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C., July 21. In spite of the 105-degree heat, the paratroopers trained throughout the day into the night.

July 22, 2011 - Photo by Justin Connaher

Paratroopers of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, conduct a parachute training and water landing exercise at Big Lake, Alaska, July 22. Several hundred troopers from the battalion, who trained extensively in preparation for the maneuver, jumped from UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, staged at a nearby airfield, into Big Lake and were brought safely to shore by rubber boats.

July 26, 2011 - Photo by Staff Sgt. Travis Surber

Staff Sgt. Travis Surber, a native of Franklin County, Va., and a paratrooper with the 173rd Brigade Combat Team's Battle Company of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, parachutes out of a C-130 Hercules Transport Aircraft and into the Ukraine sky.

July 27, 2011 - Photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod

A combat observation lasing team calls in illumination rounds from nearby mortars during training at Fort Bragg, N.C., July 27. The Soldiers are assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team. The forward observers are working between two armed security vehicles.